Heart action multi-line pump constructions



Jan. 26, 1960 E. L. SCHULTZ 2,922,379

HEART ACTION MULTI-LINE PUMP CONSTRUCTIONS Filed June 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "HHHH V 4' 3 ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 E. SCHULTZ 2,922,379

HEART ACTION MULTI-LINE PUMP CONSTRUCTIONS Filed June 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5; FIG. 3

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Eugene L. Schultz 33 .55 3 .32 I6 ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 5.1... SCHULTZ HEART ACTION MULTI-LINE PUMP CONSTRUCTIONS Filed June 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5

INVENTOR. Eugene L. Schultz United States Patent. I

HEART ACTION MULTI-LINE PUMP CONSTRUCTIONS Eugene L. Schultz, Jackson Heights, NY. Application June 6, 1957, Serial No. 663,936 19 Claims. (Cl. 103,-148) This invention relates to pumps designed to apply a propelling force to a liquid or gas within a resilient tubing provided as part of a closed system satisfying the requirements of various types of physiological, chemical, medical, bacteriological, biochemical and the like laboratory techniques and more particularly is directed to a novel pump construction utilizing a so-called heart action to accomplish the the system.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve pumps of the character described satisfying requirements for laboratory use in the biochemical and related fields, which shall be capable of servicing relatively numerous completely separate and isolated fluid systems or lines each provided with a resilient tubing, which shall have multiple beds for simultaneously accommodating said tubing from. each of the lines being serviced, which shall be capable of simultaneously servicing tubing of different diameters, which shall operate on a heart action principle rendering dependable and uniform output, which shall permit separate, selective and independent control over each of the lines being serviced including adjustment for rate of flow and rapid engagement with and disengagement from the pumping action, which shall be corpact, light weight and yet rugged in construction, which shall have accessible manual control means arranged for easy and rapid manipulation and also provide for automatic control, which heart action shall subject the resilient tubing to a. minimum of wear reducing maintenance time and costs,;.and which shall be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a heart action pump constructed to embody the invention with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view as seen along line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1 showing one of the tubing lines in position on the vertically adjustable bed and the control means therefor, the valves and platen being shown at the completion of a pumping stroke, that is, when both valves are closed and the platen is in an extreme lowered position, the adjustable bed being shown in a preferred position whereby only partial collapse of the tube is utilized in the pumping action of the platen.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 in Fig. 3 with parts broken away to show details of construction, the tubing lines on the right half of the pump being shown propulsion of the liquid or gas through 2,922,379 Patented Jan. 26, 1960 with the course on-off adjustment in oif position and those on the left half of the pump with the course adjustment in on position, the line adjustments for the several tubing lines on both halves being shown at a variety of possible settings.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 in Fig. 3 showing details of the valve forming elements.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of the front and rear walls of the'pump showing means for adapting tubing of smaller diameter to the openings provided therein.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view line 77 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bottom of thepurnp showing a modified push-pull bar on-01f control adapted for automatic operation. i

Fig; 9 is a perspective view of the actuating drum and shifting lever shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to modified form of on-off matic timing cam therefor.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section showing push-pull bars modified to receive a comb-like clip for joining the bars together for actulation as a group. I

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a modified control cell having a pivotal form of quick acting on-off switch.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a control panel utilizing the quick acting switch shown in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14' is a fragmentary sectional view taken similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of platen and separator arrangement.

Referring in detail to the drawing, '20 denotes a heart action pump constructed to embody the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, as comprising a bottom or base casing half 21 and an upper casing half 22 separably mounted thereon in any suitable manner, such as, by hinges 23' permitting the upper casing half 22 to be swung into an open position providing easy access to bottom casing half 21. The latter may be formed asan open top box structure enclosed by opposite ends walls 24 and 25 extending up from opposite ends of bottom wall 26 and having a front control panel 27 extending between end Walls 24 and 25. Also extending longitudinally between end walls 24 and 25' are a pair of angle bars 28 and 29 having vertically extending portions positioned in alignment with longitudinal front and rear edges of bottom wall 26 and end walls 24 and 25 serving as front and rear wall sections 28a and 29a respectively, the top edges of said wall sections 28a and 29a and end walls 24 and 25 lying in a single plane XX defining the open top of base casing half 21.

Extending in a row adjacent the top edge of each front and rear wall section 28a and 29a is a series of uniformly spaced openings 28b and 2%, respectively, arranged in front to rear alignment with eath other and having entrance slots 28c and 290, respectively, communicating with plane XX. Each pair of aligned openings 28b and 2912 may removably receive through said slots 28c and 29 a section of tubing line L for support in a substantially horizontal position across the opening of bottom casing half 21. Control means providing a fine adjustment for regulating the flow of fluid in each tubing line L- and a course adjustment for rapid on-01f control are housed in bottom casing half 21 below said tubing lines L. Such identical control means is provided for each tubing line L, each functioning as an independent unit hereinafter described and referred to as control celI unit 30 which includes a bed member 31 extending beneath and supporting a midtaken substantially along Fig. 9 but showing a control switch and an autopanel 36 and a pair of opposite front and rear walls 37 and 38 extending longitudinally between end walls 34 and As seen in Fig. 1,'when upper casing half .22 is in closed position over bottom casing half 21, thebottom .edges of end walls 34 and 35 terminate in said plane XX while, if desired, front and rear walls 37 and 38 may extend down. from cover panel 36 to have bottom edges thereof spaced above said plane XX to provide visual access to the interior moving parts.

The propelling means for pump is provided by a platen 39'extending longitudinally between opposite end walls 34 and 35, platen 39 being supported by drive shaft 40 to dispose bottom tube compressing surface 39a thereof in a plane parallel to plane XX for oscillating movement toward and away from bed members 31. Platen 39 is formed with a strengthening portion which may be integral therewith-or, as shown in Fig. 3, a separate bar 3% attached to platen 39 by suitable means, such as, screws 39c.

Drive shaft 40 is herein observed to extend beyond the length of upper casing half 22, being suitably journaled for support and rotation in bearings 34a and 35a provided in opposite end walls 34 and 35, respectively. Oscillatory movement may be imparted to platen 39 by drive shaft 40 in any well understood manner shown in the drawings to comprise a pair of pitmans 39d eccentrically mounted at one end thereof on opposite end portions of shaft 40 by-bearings 39s, the other ends of pitmans 39d carrying bearings 39 for rotation on suitable wrist-pins 39g mounted on opposite ends of platen 39. Although pitmans 39d may be arranged on-drive shaft 40 on the interior sides of end walls 34 and 35, in the embodiment herein shown, pitmans 39d are positioned on the exterior of said end walls 3 4 and 35 with wrist-pins 39g being mounted on extension bosses 39h terminating each end of platen 39 and extending throughaligned guide slots34b and 35b provided in end walls 34 and 35 respectively. As is clear from Figs. 2, 3 and 4, said extension bosses 3% are each vertically elongated and properly sized withrrespect to slots 34b and 35b for maintaining platen bottom surface 39a in parallel relation to said plane XX during oscillatory movement of platen 39.

Also mounted within upper casing half 22 to operate in timed relation with the oscillatory movement of platen 39 are a pair of rods 41 and 42 extending longitudinally in parallel relation, one on each side of platen 39 and spaced therefrom a predetermined distance for constricting tubing lines L at points P1 and P2 beyond both ends of mid-sections M whereby two valve opening and closing means are provided which, coacting with the platen compressing means, comprise the heart action of pump 20. Rods 41 and 42 terminate on opposite ends in pins 41a and 42a, respectively, extending into pairs of vertical guide slots 34c and 35c in end walls 34 and 35.

Rods -41 and 42 are retained in an open position, that s, in a raised position above tubing lines Llby pairs of tension springs 41b and 42b suspended from pairs of pins 375: and 38a inwardly projecting from front and rear walls 37 and 38, respectively. Rods 41 and 42 are intermittently lowered against the action of springs 41b and 42b to alternately constrict tubing lines L at said spaced points P1 and P2 by pairs of bell cranks 41c and 420 pivotally mounted on pivot pins 41d and 42d projecting from the interior sides of end walls 34 and 35. Upper ends 41e and 42e of bell cranks 41c and 420, respectively, engage cams 43 mounted on drive shaft 40 while lower ends 41 and 42 thereof may be fitted with adjustment screws 41g and 42g having ends which engage rods 41 and 42, respectively.

Opposing the movable rods 41 and 42, any suitable relatively fixed means may be provided in bottom casing half 21 against which constriction of tubing lines L at points P1 and P2 may be accomplished on the lowering of rods 41 and 42. Such fixed means may be in the form of a pair of fixed rods (not shown) extending parallel to rods 41 and 42 beneath tubing lines L. In the embodiment herein disclosed and as shownin Figs. 3 and 5, such relatively fixed means are provided to render individual adjustability for each tubing line L and is shown to comprise discs 44 and 45' opposing rods 41 and 42, respectively. Discs 44 and 45 are arranged in series in side by side relation to align under-tubing lines L and are confined in a space defined by vertical portions 28a and 29a and horizontal portions 28d and 29d of angle bars 28 and 29 and longitudinally extending bars 28e and 29e. Associated with each of the discs 44 and 45 are wedges 44a and 45a arranged for movement toward and away from bars 28a and 2%, respectively, and actuated by set screws 44!) and 45b extending through vertical portions 28a and 29a below openings 28b and 2%, respectively. Movement of wedges 44a and 45a by means of set screws 44b and 45b serve to raise and lower discs 44 and 45, respectively, for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The individual control cell units 39 provided for each tubing line L and housed in bottom casing half 21 will be seen in Figs. 3 and 4 to be separated from each other by thin plates 30a extending vertically from bottom wall 26 up to aplane parallel to but spaced a sufficient distance below plane XX to clear the oscillatory movement of platen 39 and extending horizontally between bars 28e and 29e.

Each control cell unit 30 will be seen to comprise a bed member 31 having a top surface 31a arranged to support a mid-section M of a tubing line L in a plane parallel toplane XX and to the plane of the platen bottom surface 39a. One of the features of the invention is the provision of individual adjustment means for selectively varying the distances of top surfaces 31:: from platen bottom surface 39a. To this end, any suitable means for providing both a fine distance adjustment and a predetermined relatively course on-off switch adjustment may be utilized for selectively controlling the position of each of the bed member top surfaces 31a in relation to platen 39. a p

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, bed members .31 retained for vertical movement between longitudinal bars 28a and 29s have bottom inclined surfaces 31b riding on similarly inclined upper'surfaces 32a of wedges 32. Tension springs 32b connecting wedges 32 with front control panel 27 serve to retain the latter against set screws 32c extending through said control panel 27. Horizontal movement of wedges 32 by set screws 32c raise and lower bed members 31 providing the desired fine vertical adjustment of top supporting surfaces 31a.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, push-pull bars 33 extend beneath wedges 32 in coplanar relation therewith andhave spaced feet 33a attached to the underside thereof. Pushpull bars 33 support wedges 32 and bed members 31 to selectively dispose top supporting surfaces 31a in on" position, thatis, a predetermined spaced distance from platen bottom surface 39a to permitthe latter to compress mid-sections M of tubing lines L when feet 33a rest on bottom wall 26; and in .oif position, that is, spaced to :position said mid-sections M completely out of the range of oscillation of platen bottom surface 39a when push-pull bars 33 are pulled forward to lower feet 33a into longitudinally extending spaced slots 26:: formed in bottom wall 26. Rear edges 26b of slots 26a are inclined or beveled forming a slideway for feet 33a facilitating the return of push-pull bars 33 to thef-on positionwhen the latter are p hed rearwardly until the rea ends 33c a ut longitudinally extending stop bar 260, the latter being shown in Fig. 3 as a low rear wall section extending up from bottom wall 26. Push pull bars 33 have front ends 33b extending through an opening in the front of casing half 21 between the bottom edge of front control panel 27 and bottom wall 26. As is clear from Figs. 1, 2, and 3, front ends 33b form finger gripping means which on adjoining control cell units may be alternately curved upwardly and downwardly to facilitate the selection of a single bar and the manipulation thereof by the fingers in performing the on-off" switching operation.

Any suitable latching means may be provided for securing bottom casing half 21 and upper casing half 22 together in closed position, as for example, pairs of lugs 23:: extending from end walls 24 and 34 tapped and threaded to receive securing bolts 23b.

Shaft 40 is driven by a suitable power source, such as, an electric motor (not shown) mounted internally or externally of casing half 22 or provided as a separate unit in the well understood manner.

' The operation of pump 20 will now be apparent. After making and assembling the parts as described above and shown in the drawings, bolts 2312 are removed from lugs 23a to permit the swinging of upper casing half 22 on hinges 23 to a fully open position, that is, from the horizontal position shown in the drawings to a vertical position to fully expose the open top of bottom casing half 21. Tubing lines L, formed of suitable material having resilient properties, that is, properties providing relatively rapid return to a normal cross-sectional shape upon release from a compressed or flattened condition, for example, vinyl plastic, rubber or the like, are then placed in position across the width of pump unit 20 and forced into pairs of aligned openings 28!) and 29b through entrance slots 28c and 290. Each tubing line L will then extend through a front opening 28b, between rod 41 and a disc 44, over longitudinal bar 282, between platen bottom surface 39a and bed member top supporting surface 31a, over longitudinal bar 29e, between rod 42 and a disc 45, and out through rear opening 29b.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, where seventy-two tubing lines L of of an inch outside diameter are accommodated, the over-all length of pump 20 will approximate twenty inches and the width or depth about five inches.

Where intended use of pump 20 requires tubing lines L of a predetermined diameter, for example, of an inch, openings 28b and 2% are sized to grippingly retain such sized tubing against excessive longitudinal shifting so that, once positioned, tubing lines L will remain in substantially parallel relation, each in alignment with its respective bed member 31.

Upper casing half 22 is then closed and secured in operative positon on bottom casing half 21, set screws 44!) and 451) having been pre-sct to position discs 44 and 45, respectively, to provide complete constriction of tubing lines L at points P1 and P2 when rods 41 and 42 are completely lowered by the action of cams 43 and set screws 32c pre-set to position wedges 32 for providing an average desired output for each line when the push-pull bars 33 are in on position. The setting of discs 44 and 45 will be determined by the wall thickness of the tubing L being used.

It is to be understood that each tubing line L is a part of a closed fluid system to which it may be attached prior to being installed in pump 20 or it may be a length of tubing which is arranged for attachment to such fluid system at any subsequent time.

The heart action of pump 20 will be apparent from Fig. 3 which shows platen 39 in a fully lowered position with earns 43 effective to urge both rods 41 and 42 to a valve closed position by constricting tubing lines L at P1 and P2. It will now be clear from Fig. 3 that when power is applied to rotate shaft 40 in a clockwise direction, platen 39 wil begin its upstroke and cams 43 will release bell cranks 41c permitting rod 41 to be raised by springs 4112. With lines L now open at P1 and platen 39 releasing mid-sections M, the latter, in returning by resiliency to their normally open condition, suck in fluid from the right end of lines L, the left end remaining closed off at P2 by the action of cams 43 against bell crank 420. As platen 39 reaches its fully raised position, both rods 41 and 42 will again close off lines L at P1 and P2 and as platen 39 begins its downstroke bell crank 420 is released permitting rod 42 to be raised by springs 42b opening tubing lines L at P2. Lines L remaining open at P2 and closed at P1, the downstroke of platen 39 forces the fluid in mid-section M out the left end of lines L to complete a pumping cycle. A reversal of shaft 40 will reverse the direction of flow of the fluid in lines L.

Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, illustrate an embodiment of the invention utilizing tubing lines L of of an inch outside diameter which requires platen bottom surface 39a to oscillate a distance of approximately A; of an inch. As will be clear from Fig. 3, bottom surface 39a in its extreme lowered position will align with the top of openings 28b and 2%. Thus, in order to obtain any compression of tubing lines L, the top supporting surface 31a must be raised above the bottom of openings 28b and 2%. It has'been found that for normal requirements, subjecting tubing line mid-sections M only to partial collapse as shown in Fig. 3 renders a smoothy operating pump and reduces wear on the tubing. Since the length of stroke of platen 39 is relatively short, pump 20 may be operated at frequencies between and 400 cycles per second.

The rate of output by pump 20 will be observedto be controlled in two different ways: (1) the r.p.m. of shaft 40 and thus the frequency of the pumping cycle will affect the output of all tubing lines L simultaneously, while (2) the degree of compression of mid-section M which can be adjusted manually by set screws 32c provides control of the outputcapacity of each line L separately and independently of the others. In Fig. '4, the left half of pump 20 illustrates five lines, namely, La, Lb, Lc, Ld and Le with respective bed members 31 set at various levels for providing different pumping rates, L0 and Le being shown at a setting completely out of range of platen 39 and thus in a position where no pumping is taking place. Lines Lv, Lw, Lx, Ly and Lz indicated on the right half of pump 20 in Fig. 4 likewise show bed members 31 set at various levels but with pushpull bars 33 in off position so that all lines L are positioned out of range of platen 39.

Where use of pump 20 does not require the relatively rapid on-off control afforded by push-pull bars 33, the latter may be omitted and set screws 320 used as an on-off" switch as shown by lines Lo and Le in Fig. 4 and above described.

Where tubing of smaller diameter than that snugly fitting openings 28b'and 29b is required by a given fluid system, as'shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a smaller diameter tubing line Ls is provided with suitably sized split wedgeshaped collars Q and used simultaneously with fitted lines L and Lg, control cell unit 30 being adjusted to accommodate the smaller diameter of line Ls. Should line Ls also have a wall thickness differing from the other lines, adjustment will also be made by set screws 44b and 45b to provide proper closure thereof at valve points P1 and P2. 7

Fig. 14 shows a modification utilizing platen 139 provided with transverse grooves 139!) in bottom surface 139a for clearing separating plates a which extend up between mid-sections M of lines L to a higher level than separating plates 30a shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This construction serves to retain lines L of the same or different diameters in proper parallel alignment with bed members 31 and obviates the need for grip fitting thereof in openings 28b and 2% as descn'bed above.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the on-off switch adapted for use with an automatic timing mechanism and shows a push-pull bar 133 similar to bar 33 but having loose connection fitting 133d projecting from the bottom thereof between feet 133a and aligned with the centrally located longitudinal slot 26a in bottom wall 26 for receiving the end of arm 135a of switch lever 135. The latter may be suitably mounted below bottom wall 26 for pivotal movement to reciprocate push-pull bar 133 on actuation by any suitable automatically timed control means, such as, a solenoid (not shown) or a rotating timing drum 136 having spaced pegs 136a and 136!) positioned to engage lever arms 13512 and 1350, respectively, of switch lever 135. As is clear from Fig. 9, as drum 136 rotates counterclockwise peg 136a will engage beveled end 135d of lever arm 13517 to pivot switch lever 135 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 8, shifting bar 133 from an fcfi to an on position. Peg 1361; will engage lever arm 135a after a predetermined time interval to shift switch lever 135 in a clockwise direction returning bar 133 to the off position.

individual switch levers 135 and pairs of pegs 136a and 136]) may be provided for each control cell unit 30 for operating each of the lines L separately. However, where it is desirable to have two or more adjoining lines switched on or off simultaneously as a group, any suitable means may be provided for locking push-pull bars 33 or 133 together. An example of one such means is shown in Fig. 11 where three adjoining push-pull bars 233are shown provided at exposed ends thereof with lateral aligned notches or grooves 233a sized and positioned to receive a toothed clip 234. As is clear from the drawing, clip 234 may readily be slipped into position so that teeth 234a engage facing grooves 233a of adjacent bars 233 locking same together for simultaneous reciprocation. Bar 233 may in all other respects be constructed similar to bar 33 or 133. Thus, by providing pump with push-pull bars 233 and clips 234, any group of lines L may be joined together for on-ofi control as a unit either actuated manually or by an automatic timing mechanism, such as, switch lever 135 actuated by drum 136.

Fig. 10, shows another form of automatic on-01f switch control in which a T-shaped member 333 is utilized instead of push-pull bars 33 or 333. As is clear from the drawing, a T-shaped member 333 supports each wedge 32 and the other elements of control cell unit 30, the latter otherwise being constructed to operate in the same manner as described above. For supporting T- shaped members 333 for vertical reciprocation, a bottom wall 326 is provided which, instead of having slots 26a, is formed with spaced openings 326a aligned with respective wedges 32 and having downwardly extending flanges 32612 forming guideways through which upright portions 333a extend to contact actuating cam surfaces 336a of a timing cam 336. Horizontal portions 333b of members 333 extendbeneathwedges 32 and provide a rapid onoff switch by raising and lowering the latter a predetermined distance when actuated by cam surfaces 336a. Thus, each line L and control cell unit when provided with its own T-shaped member 333 and actuating cam surface 336a will be automatically controlled for independent on-off operation in the same manner as described above for push-pull bars 133.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate still another form of on-oil switch shown incorporated in pump 20 for manual operation but which can also be connected with proper linkages for automatic control. The drawings show switch bars 433 extending through bearings 427a provided in front control panel 427 and arranged to be rotated through an angle of 90 by knobs 433a to position cam surfaces 433b thereof, upon which wedges 32 of control cell units 30 ride, in either an on position raising wedges 32 or an oil position lowering wedges 32. A rear wall 438 may also be fitted with suitable bearings 438a for supporting rearends of bars 433 in proper alignment with front bearings 427a. As is clear from Fig. 13, switch bars 433 may each be provided with a laterally extending pin 433a positioned to engage spaced stops 4271) projecting from control panel 427 to limit the rotation of each cam surface 433]) to an arc of in swinging from an on to an oil position. To facilitate manual control of the closely spaced knobs 433a, pins 4330 on alternate switch bars 433 extend upwardly or downwardly and are arranged to rotate in opposite directions in moving from on to off positions and vice versa.

It will be observed that by utilizing the type of platen and separating plate construction shown in Fig. 14 and described above, a pump may be constructed within the scope of the invention in which tubing lines L are arranged vertically, one above the other, and platen oscillation and control cell unit adjustment occurs in a horizontal plane.

It is thus seen that there is provided improved multiiine pump constructions whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A pump of the character described comprising a plurality of lengths of resilient tubing supported in a row in substantially parallel relation, a separate abutment extending along each of said tubing lengths on one side thereof, a pumping platen mounted for .reciprocating movement toward and away from said row for alternately compressing and releasing said tubing lengths simultaneously against said abutments, a pair of tube constricting means positioned one on each side of said platen arranged to extend transverse the tubing lengths, means for reciprocating said pumping platen and operating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tube lengths for propelling a fluid therethrough, and an onoif switch for each of said tube lengths coacting with each of said abutments effective to move the latter a predetermined distance away from said pumping platen to position the tubing out of range of action of the platen.

2. A pump of the character'described comprising a plurality of beds each supporting a length of resilient tubing in side by side substantially parallel spaced relation, a pumping platen mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from said beds for alternately compressing and releasing said tubing lengths against the beds, a pair of tube constricting means positioned one on each side of the platen through which said tube lengths extend, means for reciprocating said pumping platen and operating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tubing lengths for propelling a fluid in each tube in a desired direction, and a separate means operatively connected to each of said beds for adjusting the spacing between each bed and said pumping platen independently of each other to control the degree of compression applied to each tubing length by the pumping platen in its recipro eating movement to control the rate of flow in each tube.

3. The pump defined in claim 2 including an on-oil switch for each of said tubing lengths coacting with each of said beds to move the latter a predetermined distance away from. said pumping platen to position the tubing out of range of action of the platen.

4- A p mp of the character described comprising means supporting a plurality of leng hs of resilient tubing in side by side relation extending, substantially in a single plane, an. independently adjustable abu men 1 9 extending along each of said tubing lengths on one side thereof, a pumping platen mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from said plane for alternately compressing and releasing said tubing lengths against each of said abutments, a pair of tubing constricting means positioned one on each side of said platen arranged to extend transverse the tubing lengths, means for reciprocating said pumping platen and operating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tubing lengths for propelling a liquid therethrough, and an independently operable control cell unit connected with each of said abutments effective to provide a fine adjustment of the spacing between each abutment and said pumping platen and a course adjustment for said spacing etfective to engage and disengage the pumping action.

5. A pump of the character described comprising a pluraity of beds each supporting a length of resilient tubing in side by side substantially parallel spaced relation, a pumping platen mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from said beds for alternately compressing'and releasing said tubing lengths simultaneously against the beds, a pair of movable rods positioned one on each side of the platen arranged for reciprocation toward and away from the tubing lengths for constricting the tubing at points beyond both ends of the beds, and a drive shaft connected for reciproeating said pumping platen and said rods in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tube lengths for propelling a fluid therethrough.

6. The pump defined in claim 5 in which each of said beds is mounted for independent adjusting movement toward and away from said platen to regulate the compression exerted on each tubing length by said pumping platen for controlling the flow of fluid,

7. A pump of the character described comprising a plurality of beds each supporting a length of resilient tubing in side by side substantially parallel spaced relation, a pumping platen mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from said beds for alternately compressing and releasing said tubing lengths against the beds, a pair of tube constricting means positioned one on each side of said platen through which said tube lengths extend, means for reciprocating said pumping platen and operating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tubing lengths for propelling a fluid in each of said tubing lengths in a desired direction, a wedge-shaped support for each of said beds having an upper inclined surface, each of said beds having an inclined bottom surface riding on one of said support inclined upper surfaces, means for moving each of said supports with respect to the supported bed thereof for raising and lowering the latter to adjust the spacing between each bed and said pumping platen to control the degree of compression applied to each tubing length.

8. The pump defined in claim 7 including an on-off switch for each of said tubing lengths, each switch comprising a horizontally extending bar on which one of said wedge-shaped supports rests, said bar having spaced feet, a base member on which said feetrest carrying said bar with one of the wedge-shaped supports and beds for positioning a tubing length in a relatively raised on" position, said base member having spaced depressions into which said feet extend on movement of each of raised on'pos ition and in a relatively lowered off position outv of effective range of the reciprocating platen.

10. A pump of the character described comprising a plurality of beds each supporting a length of resilient tubing in side by side substantially parallel spaced relation, each length of tubing being connected as part of a closed system through which a fluid is to be pumped, means for removably retaining each of said tubing lengths in said parallel spaced relation against displacement from alignment with its respective bed, a pumping platen mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from said beds for alternately compressing and releasing said tubing lengths against the beds, a pair of tube constricting means positioned one on each side of said platen through which said tube lengthsextend, means for reciprocating said pumping platen and operating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tubing lengths for propelling a fluid in each of said tubing lengths in a desired direction, and a separate means operatively connected to each bed for adjusting the spacing between each bed and said pumping platen independently of the others to control the degree of compression'applied to each tubing length by the pumping platen in' its reciprocating movement for controlling the rate of flow in each tube.

11. The pump defined in claim 10 in which said retaining means includes separating plates extending between each bed and tubing length, said platen having grooves aligned with said plates into which the latter extend.

12. The pump defined in claim 1 including means for interconnecting a plurality of said on-otf switches for simultaneous operation as a group.

13. The pump defined inclaim 2 in which each of said tube constricting means has an independent adjustment for each tubing length to accommodate tubes of different -wall thicknesses.

14. In a pump of the character described, a casing half formed as an open top box structure including front and rear walls, a plurality of resilient tubing lengths arranged in a row extending from front to rear across the open top of said box structure, a plurality of bed members, one bed member positioned beneath each tubing length for supporting a mid-section thereof, separate means operatively connected to each of said bed members for raising and lowering the latter independently of the others, and a manual control extending from said front wall operatively connected to each of said raising and lowering means for actuation thereof.

15. In the pump defined in claim 14, a second raising and lowering means operatively connected to each of said bed members adapted to raise and lower each bed member a predetermined distance independently of said first raising and lowering means, and a second manual control extending from said front wall operatively connected to each of said second raising and lowering means fo actuation thereof. 1

16. In a pump of the character described, a casing half formed as an open top box structure including front, rear and bottom walls, a plurality of resilient tubing lengths arranged in a row extending from front to rear across the open top of said box structure, a plurality of bed members, one bed member positioned beneath each tubing length for supporting a mid-section thereof, separate means operatively connected to each of said bed members for raising and lowering the latter a predetermined distance independently of the others, and an automatic timing means operatively connected to and controlling said raising and lowering means to selectively position said bed members in raised and lowered positions during predetermined time intervals.

17. In the pump defined in claim 16, said bottom wall being formed with longitudinal slots, said separate raising and lowering means comprising horizontally extending bars arranged for sliding movement substantially parallel to said tubing and having spaced feet supporting said bed members on said bottom wall in a raised position and slidable into said longitudinal bottom wall slots for supporting said bed me bers in a lowered position.

18. Ina pump ofthe' character described, a casing half formed as an; open top box structure including from and rear walls, a plurality of resilient tubing lengths arranged in a row extending from front to rear across the open top of saidbox structure, a plurality of bed members, one bed member positioned beneath each tubing length for 'supporting a mid-section thereof, a plurality of pairs of abut-' ments, one abutment on each side of each bed member underlying each tubing length, separate first means 0pf erativ'ely connected to each of said bed members for raising and lowering the latter independently of the others, a manual control extending from said front wall operativ'ely connected to each of said first raising and lowering means for actuation thereof, a pair of second means operatively connected to each of said pairs ofabutments for raising. and lowering the latter independently of the others, a manual control extending from said front wall operatively connected to one of the means of each pair of second raising and lowering means for actuation thereof, and a manual control extending-from said rear wall operatively connected to the other means of each pair of second raising and lowering means for actuation thereof.

19. A pump of the character described comprising a bed supporting a plurality of lengths of resilient tubing in side by side substantially parallel spaced relation, each length of tubing being connected as part of a'closed sys? away from said bed for alternately compressing and re leasin'gsaid tubing lengths against the bed, a pair 'of tube constricting means positioned one on each side of said platen through which said tube lengths extend, means connected to said pumping platen and constricting means for reciprocating said pumping platen andoperating said tube constricting means in timed relation imposing a heart action on said tubing lengths for propelling the liquid in each tube through its respective system in a desired direction, said bed being divided into individual sections, one for each tubing length, and means operativelyconnected to each of said individual bed sections for adjusting the spacing between each of said sections and said pumpingplaten independently of the other sections to regulatethe compression exerted on each tubing length by said pumping platen in itsreciprocating movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

